Get All Access for $5/mo

Google Ventures, Others Back Elon Musk's Neuralink Startup With $205 Million Musk's project aims to develop brain implants that will be able to communicate with devices.

By Entrepreneur Staff Edited by Emily Rella

Bloomberg | Getty Images

Elon Musk's Neuralink startup raised $205 million in a series C round from investors like Google Ventures, DFJ Growth, Founders Fund, and OPEN AI CEO Sam Altman.

Musk's project aims to develop brain implants that will be able to communicate with devices.

Vy Capital led the fundraising round, which Crunchbase says helped Neuralink hit $363 million in overall funding. Valor Equity Partners, Craft Ventures, and Gigafund also joined the round, as did ARCH Venture Partners co-founder Robert Nelson, Byers Capital's Blake Byers, Paradigm and Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, and PayPal and Founders Fund co-founder Ken Howery.

Neuralink, founded in 2016, seeks to build "the first high channel count brain machine interface intended for therapeutic use in patients," according to a blog post announcing the funding round. The post added that the first indication the company's initial product, the N1 Link, is intended for is to help quadriplegics interact with devices "in a high bandwidth and naturalistic way." The funding from the round, the post said, will be used to take the first product to market as well as accelerate research and development on future products.

Neuralink's technology has been trialed on pigs as well as a monkey that was able to play a video game with its mind. Musk said in February that Neuralink could begin implanting computer chips in humans later this year.

Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

For more than 30 years, Entrepreneur has set the course for success for millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners. We'll teach you the secrets of the winners and give you exactly what you need to lay the groundwork for success.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business News

New Southwest Airlines Major Investor Wants to Force Out CEO, Slams Company's 'Stubborn Unwillingness to Evolve'

Elliot Investment Management announced a $1.9 billion stake in the Dallas-based Southwest Airlines on Monday and is urging shareholders to vote for new leadership.

Science & Technology

Why We Shouldn't Fear AI in Education (and How to Use It Effectively)

Facing resistance to new technologies in the educational process is nothing new, and AI is no exception. Yet, this powerful tool is set to overcome these challenges and revolutionize education, preparing students and professionals for a future of unparalleled efficiency and personalized learning.

Business News

Elon Musk Threatens to Ban Employees from Using Apple Products, Says Will Lock Devices in 'Cages'

The Tesla founder sounded off on X following Apple's 2024 Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday.

Business News

Apple's AI Has a Catch — And It Could Help Boost Sales

Not every iPhone owner will get to use the new Apple Intelligence.